Top 5 longest range electric cars to salary sacrifice in 2023

17 Oct

Electric cars have come a long way in the past ten years. To see this progress, just remember that in 2011, the original Nissan LEAF could only travel 109 miles before needing a recharge. You couldn't even drive it from London to Birmingham without searching for a charging station. Nowadays, the best electric cars can cross entire countries without running out of battery.

Many people don't need a car with a 400 or 300-mile range if they have a short daily commute or can charge the car at home. However, for some potential electric car buyers, the fear of running out of power on longer trips is a concern. A longer range means you can travel longer distances without stopping, or it can simply mean you won't have to charge your car as often.

Having a long range can be a nice feature of the latest high-end electric cars with big batteries. But it's important to think carefully about how much range you really need, rather than just getting as much as your budget allows. Generally, a bigger range means a bigger, heavier, and more expensive battery, which can impact the car's weight and cost. If a shorter range suits your needs, you can save money and even gain some efficiency because of the lighter weight.

To give you a clear idea of the impressive electric car ranges available today, we've put together a list of the electric cars with the longest ranges currently available in the UK. The numbers you'll see below come from the official WLTP efficiency test, which is designed to provide a more realistic estimate of the range you can expect in everyday driving, unlike the older NEDC test.

1 - Fisker Ocean 113kWh

fisker-ocean-longest-range-electric-car — *Note: Pricing shown is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme* *quote tool*. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 5,000 miles pa, 48 months, 40% tax rate payer and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover.

Fisker, an electric car manufacturer based in California, is currently developing a range of electric vehicles (EVs), including an affordable SUV under £30,000 and a high-performance five-seat convertible GT with over 1,000 horsepower. However, their first model on the market is the Ocean, a stylish family SUV with some innovative features and an impressive range when configured correctly.

The Ocean lineup offers different range options:

The base model, Ocean Sport, can travel up to 273 miles on a single charge.
The Ocean Ultra extends that range to 379 miles.
The top-of-the-line Ocean Extreme and a limited-production Ocean One can astonishingly cover 440 miles on one charge, as claimed by Fisker.

This remarkable range is made possible by a substantial 106.5kWh usable battery and the use of two electric motors that provide all-wheel drive and a combined power output of 557 horsepower.

2 - Tesla Model Y Long Range

tesla-model-y-longest-range-electric-car — *Note: Pricing shown is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme* *quote tool*. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 5,000 miles pa, 48 months, 40% tax rate payer and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover.

Initially, the Model Y was introduced in the UK with two versions: the Long Range and the Performance. The Long Range model lives up to its name by offering an impressive claimed range of 331 miles on a single charge. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, which is pretty quick. On the other hand, the Performance model boasts sports car-like acceleration, going from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds. However, this extra speed comes at a cost, reducing the range slightly to 319 miles.

Both of these models are equipped with four-wheel drive. But there's also a third, more affordable rear-wheel drive version simply named the Model Y. It's a bit slower, taking 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, and has a shorter range of 283 miles.

When it comes to handling, the Model Y does a good job of emulating the Model 3. It maintains stability in turns and has responsive steering that makes it feel surprisingly nimble for its size, though it may not be as entertaining as the Model 3. The ride quality is firm, especially if you opt for the optional 20-inch wheels, which can occasionally feel a bit rough.

One of the Model Y's advantages is access to Tesla's extensive and reliable Supercharger charging network. The latest 250kW Superchargers can add 75 miles of range to the Model Y in just five minutes, and a 15-minute charge will give you an extra 158 miles of range.

3 - Polestar 3 Long Range

polestar-3-longest-range-electric-car — *Note: Pricing shown is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme* *quote tool*. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 5,000 miles pa, 48 months, 40% tax rate payer and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover.

Let's talk about efficiency with the Polestar 3. It comes equipped with a substantial 111kWh battery pack, which gives it an official range of 380 miles on a single charge. When you need to recharge, it can handle speeds of up to 250kW, which means you can go from 10% to 80% charged in about half an hour. Charging from 0% to 100% on an 11kW home charger will take around 11 hours.

The Polestar 3 offers two dual-motor options. The first one delivers 489 horsepower and 840Nm of torque, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 4.9 seconds. The Performance Pack option pushes the power further, with 517 horsepower and 910Nm of torque, achieving a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds. However, opting for the extra power slightly reduces the range to 347 miles.

Inside, you'll find a clean and simple design with a wide, slim dashboard and a large vertically oriented touchscreen in the center. The materials used in the interior are chosen for their environmental credentials, such as animal welfare-certified leather.

Unlike the EX90, the Polestar 3 doesn't come with seven seats, and its sloping roof means it has a slightly smaller trunk. The 3 offers a 484-liter capacity with the seats up, compared to the Volvo's 650 liters (which also has a decent 310 liters with seven seats in place). The 3 is also a bit less spacious than the iX (500 liters) and Audi Q8 e-tron (569 liters).

The starting price for the Polestar 3 is approximately £80,000, and if you opt for the Performance Pack, you'll add about £6,000. The standard features include 21-inch alloy wheels, Pilot Assist (an advanced adaptive cruise control system), sustainable wool upholstery, and a high-quality Bowers and Wilkins sound system. Performance Pack cars come with 22-inch alloy wheels and a sportier suspension setup, which enhances handling at the expense of some comfort.

4 - BMW iX 111.5kWh Long Range

bmw-ix-longest-range-electric-car — *Note: Pricing shown is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme* *quote tool*. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 5,000 miles pa, 48 months, 40% tax rate payer and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover.

You have three power options to choose from, depending on whether you want a fast car or something that feels like it could bend the laws of time and space. All three versions have an electric motor on each axle for all-wheel drive, and their battery packs are positioned low in the floor.

The base model, the xDrive40, provides 336 horsepower and comes with a 70kWh battery that offers an official range of up to 257 miles on a single charge. If you're looking for more range, the xDrive50, with 523 horsepower, boasts a larger 105kWh battery that can take you up to 382 miles.

But if speed is your main priority, the iX M60 is the choice for you. With a whopping 619 horsepower, it offers a range of up to 348 miles and can go from 0 to 60mph in less than four seconds.

These cars have varying maximum charge rates, with the xDrive40 at 150kW, and the xDrive50 and M60 at 200kW. However, the bottom line is that all iX models can use a DC rapid charger to go from 10% to 80% battery capacity in under 40 minutes. If you charge it at home using a 7kW charger, it will take about 16 hours to fully recharge.

5 - Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD

tesla-model-3-longest-range-electric-car — *Note: Pricing shown is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme* *quote tool*. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 5,000 miles pa, 48 months, 40% tax rate payer and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover.

Tesla has introduced a unique version of the Model 3 LR RWD in the UK. Unlike the current Model 3 options, which include RWD with a smaller battery and AWD with a larger battery in Long Range and Performance versions, this new variant stands out.

This fresh addition offers an impressive WLTP range of 634 kilometres (394 miles), making it the Model 3 with the longest range, followed closely by the LR AWD variant with a range of 602 kilometers (374 miles). It's worth noting that the earlier long-range RWD Model 3 from the first generation is not like this new model.

Tesla has recently unveiled an updated version of the Model 3 in the UK. You can find all the details about these new cars on our website here.

You can quickly get a price estimate for any electric car with a long driving range through The Electric Car Scheme.

All the cars discussed in this blog post are accessible through The Electric Car Scheme. We have access to all electric cars on the market, so whether it's a recently released model or one you've taken a liking to, you can find more information about it on our EV salary sacrifice calculator here.

Gaurav Ahluwalia

Gaurav, The Electric Car Scheme's Marketing Director, is a seasoned marketing leader with nearly a decade of experience in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry. Throughout his career, Gaurav has not only honed his marketing skills but has also delved deep into the realm of electric cars, cultivating a wealth of valuable insights and innovative perspectives that make him a prominent figure in the field.